Posted by resident
a resident of Menlo Park: other
on Jan 11, 2019 at 10:09 am

We've been going here since we moved to Menlo Park in the mid-1980s. They've always been the best pizza in Menlo Park. Sorry to see them go, but glad that they could retire on their own terms instead of being forced out of business by greedy landlords.

Posted by Bob Vaughan
a resident of another community
on Jan 11, 2019 at 2:46 pm

Re: The Oasis.

The owners (a family owned corporation) of the Oasis did not want to close, but the landlord (children of the long time landlord) jacked up the rent, and tried to impose additional terms to the lease that were untenable. They would not have been able to continue to operate under the new terms, and were forced to make the difficult decision to close that location.

The owners continue to operate several other similar restaraunts throughout the south bay.

I'm so sad! We have loved their pizza for over 20 years and it is our favorite pizza!!! I totally respect that the owner wants to retire but I wish someone would take over the space and hire the same staff to make the same pizza! Is that possible?

Posted by Arthur
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Jan 11, 2019 at 5:48 pm

Sad that another local business has closed but like Nak's Oriental Market they didn't change with the times. Today's Pizza is different than that of 30 years ago. I'm surprised they stayed in business as long as they did with that heavy crust when most people prefer a thinner one. I look forward to seeing another vibrant business take over this high profile space, "the Gateway to Downtown". Nak's replacement has been great...unless you liked the easy parking in front.

Posted by Rick Moen
a resident of Menlo Park: University Heights
on Jan 11, 2019 at 6:59 pmRick Moen is a registered user.

My great respects to Bela Kardos and his staff, for offering a truly great pizza for so very many years. I remember this space in its prior incarnation as a Round Table Pizza, and the two absolutely did not compare. The only nostalgia I feel over the prior business was over its Pong table, not its food.

Posted by Adam
a resident of Woodside: Skywood/Skylonda
on Jan 12, 2019 at 12:03 am

The world owes that pizza place for a lot of software written by people now considered almost celebrity famous.

The next time you reserve a "ticket on an airplane" or wait for your bank transaction, or recover in a hospital with a machine that goes bing, there's a better than good chance the software was written by someone getting a good meal at Applewood.

A great ravioli, an unusual foreign beer, a fair price, TV hanging over booths, and many years. Farewell.

p.s. one of few places where, as a foreigner, I could find dinkelacker or Optimator and no shortage of garlic on the bread.

I know it’s sad to see our old businesses leave us but that place as been an eyesore on that corner for a long time! It truly needed a facelift. Although I thought their pizza was quite good I stopped going there thinking if they aren’t keeping up the outside how clean is the inside. I realize I’m in the minority but really??

It is sad to see this location Close. That Menlo Combo was amazing. If Could have one issue with the pizza is that the bread was sometimes very thin and it would fall apart on over the weight of the toppings. Also I Didn't work there but I think they had a turnover of Staff before the closure and The newer Staff were not as customer focused. They also closed Earlier for a pizza Location at 8:30 pm. Those 8:30p-11pm pizza making hours being closed probably make the Margins Slim.

Since the Closure, I really Enjoy " Five Star Pizza" on Willow Road Over by Facebook. I would recommend the Combination or the BBQ Maui Chicken! Its Amazing!!

Wow, so sad! Kens, Oasis, Foster's and now Applewood! Really sad to see these institutions fall by the way side.

Sunnyvale and probably further south, all the way up to San Mateo on El Camino Real the cities/towns are indistinguishable. No character, no "homey" feeling, just all the same kind of (ugly) development all along the way. Not to mention housing all of the same businesses. Panera, some "cool" burger joint where the burgers cost 10+, a coffee house (Peets, Starbucks), etc. It is gross, ugly.

Posted by Resident
a resident of Menlo Park: Downtown
on Jan 12, 2019 at 8:42 am

When things change I look to the bright side. Like Shake Shack. Great burgers. Long wait but worth it until you want to sit and eat. You’ll find tables with people sitting there and no food. Thay’re holding the table as someone in their party waits in line to order. Not nice. Oh, Applewood’s? They did make great pizzas!

The real estate agent for the space said a new well known pizza restaurant is coming to the current Applewood space. He didn't say which one. I asked if the Applewood owner might be willing to sell his recipes and he said he might but someone would need to open an Applewood at a different location. Anyone out there interested in opening another Applewood? I hope someone is! You can see that I really do not want this to end!!

Posted by WWhite
a resident of Portola Valley: Ladera
on Jan 12, 2019 at 3:36 pm

For years Applewood has been THE go to spot for my family and for quite a few years now, we have been dreading the day Applewood closes. That day came last Sunday when we stopped by. Felt a part of the community and our family tradition went with it. Thanks Applewood for all the wonderful memories and thanks The Almanac for letting us know what happened.

Posted by M Ogawa
a resident of Atherton: other
on Jan 12, 2019 at 4:41 pm

I've been eating Applewood since 1992. It was my go to pizza and a comfort food for me. While I understand why they needed to shutdown I wish they had sold the business to someone willing to continue the operation; the grief is real for me that they are now gone.

I wish Bela a wonderful retirement and thank you for the years of serving delicious pizza and memories to our community.

I guess I never really noticed the dumpiness–-I was too busy washing down that decadent crust with pitchers of beer. I mean, it's a pizza parlor, not a date restaurant! We loved that corner booth by the window. The Budapest and Milano pizzas and the spinach-goat cheese salad with that addictive pesto dressing were our mainstays but now I'm regretting missing out on the goulash. Sorry to see you go, Applewood.

Posted by Tricia
a resident of Atherton: West Atherton
on Jan 20, 2019 at 3:04 pm

Rick Moen: as I recall that was never a round table pizza parlor. The original round table pizza parlor is still at its original location you’re the first republic bank. It was the first round table to ever open and I was a teenager at Menlo Atherton high school when they first opened. I remember seeing an older man with white hair tossing a pizza crust in the window. It is still there after almost 50 years. With that said Applewood was my favorite. I’ve been here since 1956 and it’s sad to see so many wonderful places close. Chantilly, John Bentleys, Naks, Oasis, Late for the Train, Yuen Yung ( how many remember that tiny little restaurant on Santa Cruz Ave. when they first opened? ) BBC, and Fosters Freeze

Posted by TC
a resident of Menlo Park: The Willows
on Jan 31, 2019 at 9:08 am

I believe That location was a Village Host pizza place before It was Applewood. There is still a Village Host in Belmont. The Round Table has always been in its current location. It used to be an ugly scary place when I was a kid. Remodeled in the 70’s I think.

The Starbucks on El Camino (next to Lydian Academy) is permanently closed too. Anyone know when it closed and why? The doors are padlocked and there is a For Lease sign posted. It was always busy when I went there.

Posted by Edward
a resident of another community
on Mar 9, 2019 at 4:45 pm

Live on the border of MT View and Los Altos and have been coming here for years..are you kidding me? After Los Altos closed came to the next closest and now this :( Is there any other that is similar? THanks

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